THE NEW YOR.KER. Chopin's Third; and Prokofiev's Sixth. The Mozart was largely un- stylish-a romantic pianist's Mozart, with unpleasing rhythmic distortions, in the first two movements. The alIa turca finale, however, had an admira- bly steady beat and delightfully bold yet unexaggerated sonorities. Both the Chopin and the Prokofiev were odd performances-rhythmically and dy- namically wayward in fashions that seemed sometimes inspired but some- times pointlessly capricious. Prokofiev once analyzed four strains in his creative personality-neoclassical, ostinato, lyrical, and "the modern trend . . . the search for a language in which to express powerful emotions" -with a possible fifth that he pre- ferred to regard as an intensification of the others to a "scherzo-ish" degree. All five can be discerned in almost any of his compositions. All five appear in the Sixth Piano Sonata, a large, ambitious, and wide-ranging compo- sition. The first two seem to me- but evidently not to Mr. Pogorelich- to call for strongly defined and steady rhythms. If the first movement is not held to a crisp 4/4, how can the off- beat accents make their intended ef- fect? Mr. Pogorelich, Yugoslav-born and now London-based, is Russian- trained, but his is hardly an "authen- tically Russian" way of playing Prokofiev (I don't know Prokofiev's own recording of the sonata but have heard other celebrated Russian pianists play the piece.) The slow, free lilt that he brought to the third movement (marked "like a very slow waltz") was . . more convIncIng. He played across a very wide dy- namic range without ever becoming clangorous. His technique was effort- less and unshowy. Whenever the dy- namic indications dropped below mf, he tended to depress the soft pedal; I don't think I've ever heard a recital with so much una corda. He played a Hamburg Steinway that was dusky and unassertive of tone-too sober an instrument to set the vast spaces of Carnegie Hall ablaze. He is a real pianist, with personality, temperament, and alertness. But he seemed to have left the original scores too far behind -to revel in detail at the expense of form. Chopin's sonata was a no less beautiful and a more coherent work in Robert Taub's balanced perfor- mance earlier this season. Mr. Pogo- relich's encores-a Scriabin study, a Chopin prelude, and a Scarlatti sonata -were delectable. -ANDREW PORTER 151 "...the Nile... war, magic, the gods, death, reincarnation...lusts, ambitions, jealousies, betrayals. There is more to admire and enjoy in these pages than in ten ordinary novels7 -USA Today "Pulses with life richness power and daring ... Within this complex, often violent... story, the glory and brutality of ancient Egypt unfolds7 - The Philadelphia Inquirer "Sensuous, superbly written...A symphony of spirit and earth, of smoldering sex and slumbering tombs.. -Cosmopolitan ......oCo ,'0' . .is :.: , <<-'" ,I .? ..\c \ y. w o if "...He has written a novel like no other...a new and permanent contribution to the possibilities of fiction and our communal efforts at self-discover " -New Republic "Mailers Egypt is a haunting and magical place, primeval, mysterious - Washington Post Book World ''A remarkable booK an amazing feat of $ . A ..." imaginative specula- tion... The imagery is lush and pro- vocative.. , -St Louis Post- Dispatch finally in Paperback The National Bestseller f ffiCIENTEVENINGS NORN1AN 1v1AIlE a NER BOOKS A Novel of Our Time A Masterwork of Imagination... UD PIES AND OTHER RECIPES by Marjorie Winslow Illustrated by Erik Blegvad , This classic cookbook for dolls is back- in hardcover-at your bookseller or order from us. $8.95+ 1 50 or 2 for $20 ppd. PEBBLE PRESS, BOX 616 YONKERS, NY 10705 t'* Treasures From The Earth 0-.::, l<-."-' /Þ" '. Explore our fascinating Illustrated Catalog of Shells t FOSSils, Minerals t Books and Display Stands $1.00. Beautiful Color Portfolio of Shells and Minerals $2 00 Dover Scientific 32-58 30th Street Long Island City, N.Y. 11106 .:. .<.. TlIf QUffn nnnf Inn Known for its pursuit of excellence. Elegant country inn & restaurant 70 Queen Anne Rd, Chath MA 02633 Cape Cod (617) 945. 0394 CountIY Curtains@ FREE . Ot 'ì COLOR , C;LOGf t Country Cur- .., CU TAINS i tatns are a tradl- I M:;[ ;; Tð tion . . . years of 0'''' old-fashioned I JA<. ' I'J'" ." ."... -if quality and con- . t scientious ser- . vice. Curtains in cotton muslin and carefree permanent press, some with ruffles, others with fringe or lace trim. Also tab curtains, bed ensembles, table- cloths, wooden rods and other accessories. Free color catalog, Please call 413-298-3921 or write us. Satisfaction guaranteed. -- --_....---- o PLEASE SEND FREE CATALOG Name Address City State Zip COUNT Y ClJR;TAINS Ar lliE RrnWN fr..'N . -p Dept 4004, Stockbridge, Mass 01262